LONE Rarely does an individual extremist commit ...
Transcript of LONE Rarely does an individual extremist commit ...
LONETERRORISTS
Rarely does an individual extremist commit ideologically-motivated acts of violence in complete isolation, without having been influenced, directed, guided, or assisted by other violent extremists.
At first glance, some individual violent extremists may appear to have planned and executed an operation with complete
autonomy. Consequently, these individuals are often labeled lone terrorists or “lone wolves”. However, many individuals who
have been placed into this threat category have demonstrated some degree of affiliation with others who espouse the same
or similar violent extremist ideologies.
Such affiliation may include receiving guidance, direction, or advice from other violent extremists who are in positions of
influence (e.g. email communications between the individual and an extremist leader). Others may have received training
from or have had regular interaction with members of a known violent extremist group. Such interactions may have ceased
because the violent extremist group alienated or rejected the individual, causing the latter to resort to a more isolated operating
environment. In some cases, these individuals may have cut themselves off from society altogether.
Law enforcement officials agree that the behaviors of someone who acts alone are more difficult to detect than those of a
violent extremist cell. There is potentially less opportunity for detection and disruption when dealing with lone terrorists, as
their planning cycles may be shorter and their activities less noticeable to law enforcement or the general public. These factors
have led leaders in the law enforcement, security, and intelligence communities to claim that lone terrorists pose one of the
greatest threats to national security.
• From 1978 to 1995, Theodore Kaczynski, aka the
Unabomber, sent mail bombs to various people, killing
three. Espousing anarchist views, Kaczynski lived as
a recluse in a remote cabin. He threatened to continue
with the bombings until his anti-industrial manifesto was
published in the New York Times.
• From1996to1998,EricRobertRudolphtargetedabortion
clinics,gaynightclubsandthe1996OlympicsinAtlanta.
Atthetimeofhisarrest,Rudolphwasidentifiedasafar-
right militant and member of Christian Identity.
• In 2009, Nidal Hasan, who
was soon to be deployed to
Afghanistan, was arrested
fortheshootingatFortHood,
Texas,whichkilled13people.
It is alleged that, prior to the
shooting, Hasan had email
communications with Anwar
al-Awlaki, a leading figure in
Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen,
to seek justification and guidance for his plans.
• In 2011, Arid Uka, an employee of Frankfurt Airport,
boarded a bus carrying US Army personnel and shot and
killed two people. Before boarding, he was believed to
have asked someone if the bus contained US soldiers
bound for Afghanistan.
Of note are individuals who have come closest to
meeting the true definition of a lone terrorist. Within
this group, there are individuals who have espoused
left- and right-wing violent extremist views, as well
as Al Qaeda inspired extremism. For example:
• AformermemberoftheUSArmy,TimothyMcVeighwas
executedforplanningandcarryingoutthe1995bombing
of a federal building in Oklahoma City, which killed
168 people. Two co-conspirators were also convicted.
McVeigh was a militia movement sympathizer who
sought revenge on the US federal government for its
handling of the Waco Siege in Texas.
• In2011,AndersBehringBreivikdetonatedanexplosive
device in a government building complex in central
Oslo, killing eight people. He then traveled to a
summer camp on an island near Oslo run by the left of
centerLaborParty,whereheshotandkilled68more
people — mainly teenagers and young adults. In a
1,500pagepoliticalmanifesto,Breivik—whoclaims
to be part of a reconstituted order of medieval warrior
monks — called for a “Christian war” to defend Europe
against Islam.
Photos Front: M. Chenier, S. Denny/G. Ouellette-RCMP.Photos Back: Murrah Building, AP; McVeigh, File/FBI; ANFO, S.Denny-RCMP; Kaczynski & Rudolph , File/FBI; Hasan, courtesy Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Breivik fake police ID, HEIKO JUNGE/AFP/GettyImages; Breivek at Utøya, Trond Solberg / VG - Scanpix Norway via SIPA .© 2012 International Association of Chiefs of Police